Your spirit will forever inspire and comfort us.
Obituary
Roberta “Bird” Richardson uttered her last sarcastic words on Friday, August 9, 2024, at the age of 58. Born on October 27, 1965, in Juneau, Alaska, to Louise Evelyn Richardson and Richard Keith Durkin, she was later adopted by her beloved Daddy, Buster Richardson.
Although she once aspired to be a flight attendant, Roberta held many jobs that never quite stuck. If you asked her, she would proudly tell you that the best thing she ever did was have her three daughters. And she would make sure you knew she had three *beautiful* daughters, showing off their pictures without hesitation. Jenahe Richardson, Jelisa Mazon (Goose), and Jessica Mazon (Baby) were the pride of her life, with Jessica often jokingly referred to as "the favorite."
Her grandchildren were the light of her life, and she loved to brag about all of them: Gage, Kaydence, Chloe, Quinton, Taylor, and Jonah. Dubbed Nana by her grandkids, many other children, not related by blood, also called her Nana, a testament to the love she spread.
Roberta lived life on the edge, marching to the beat of her own drum. A little rebel at heart, she liked to cheat death, kick ass, and take names. Her hobbies included dying her hair to cover up her grays, telling dirty jokes, cooking, crocheting, and partying like it was 1985.
She was world-renowned for her lack of patience, her blunt honesty, and her knack for telling it like it is. She always told you the truth, even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. Raised in the school of hard knocks, she often regaled her children with tales of walking miles in a blizzard to get to school, reminding them to suck it up. Despite her tough exterior, Roberta was genuine to a fault, with a heart of gold (or perhaps a lion’s heart), though she sugar-coated nothing. Her extensive vocabulary included more curse words than most people learned in a lifetime.
Roberta was the greatest storyteller, painting vivid pictures with her words. Her larger-than-life personality and vibrant “I don’t give a f***” attitude lit up any room she entered. After multiple death scares, her family often joked that she was like a cockroach—indestructible. As a child, she once told her mother she feared passing away young because only the good die young. Her mother, with a laugh, reassured her, "Bobbi, you’re going to live to be old and gray!"
Though she liked to pretend she was 29, her body told a different story. With two degenerated discs in her back, a torn rotator cuff, arthritis in her knees, an ostomy bag, and other ailments too numerous to name, she nonetheless was an organ donor. Jessica would tease her that some poor soul would inherit her poor vision, hearing, well-worn liver, and broken heart. These jokes were always met with Roberta's infectious laughter.
Roberta made the world her home, teaching her children to give to others, even if they had little themselves. She opened her home to at-risk youth and anyone else who needed a place to stay, thanks in part to her rebellious older daughter. If you came over, she’d insist you eat, whether you were hungry or not—luckily, she was an impressive cook. Roberta had a huge heart, making everyone feel welcomed and safe. Despite the tough hand life dealt her, she kept everyone on their toes with her quick wit and sharp tongue.
If you knew Roberta, you knew she lit up when she saw you. She’d offer encouragement or a dirty innuendo to keep you going. In honor of her memory, though her funeral will be a private family affair, Jessica wanted to share a part of a song Roberta requested for the occasion:
*"So when the day comes and the sun won't touch my face
Tell the ones who cared enough that I've finally left this place."*
Roberta “Bird” Richardson is now in her final resting place. She will live on through the stories her loved ones will tell. We love you, Ma.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25-26
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In the end it’s how we loved and treated others that matter.
I love you more than there are stars in the sky.